The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-04-28
STRANGER THAN FICTION.
The Story of Il Beautiful But Errnt

The Story of Beautiful But Erratic
Missouri Belle.
| (St: Louis SpCc.ul to tho New Yc~ll Times !
There was printed here this morning q
dispatch announcing that William Pres
ton Hill had been paid yesterday by the
Public Administrator Of New York n
large sum, being his share of tho pro-
ceeds of his mothers estate. This bay
ment is the elimination Of romance
rich III incident. There was born ut st.
Charles, in 1887, Joanna Bchrens.
daughter of DR.. Bchrcns, wealthy and
prominent physician. The child dcvel-
oped into girl of great beauty, was
educated IN convent and in 1856 was
the belle of the county. A gentleman
who knew her in those days said: "Sho
was born to be q heroine of Il romance.
Her face was for years to me the stand
ard by which all fomaIo beauty was to
be Judged. L do not know il [ have
ever seen moro lovely woman since.
She was, think, slightly above the aver
age height of women, about five feet five
inches high, / should Judge, full and
strong IN every particular. Her eyes
were large, dark and well shaded by long
lashcs She carried her head like a
queen"
Britton II. Hill was at this time Il
rising young st. Louis lawyer, and is
to-day leading citizen of this city. He
was fascinated by the St. Charles belle
and married her. They travelled in
Europe for number of years, but did
not hvo hamoniously. phc young wife's
beauty and intellect attracted the gal
lants Of the gay European capitals and
the husbands position became SO en-
barassing that a separation took place.
She instituted proceedings for divorce.
lie filed cross suit, charging her with
intimacy with Victor Emmanuel and
other notables. Dispositions were taken
III two continents and the case became
an international scandal. Mr.. Hill was
granted his divorce.
Alter the divorce was granted Mrs,
Hill, who had suffered in name and
social position to some extent by the
developments of the suit, left Tic CITY.
She was lost sight OF for several years,
and then LOuisians who travelled in
Europe wrote and brought back strange
stories of the sensational doing3 Of the
beautiful and dashing American widow.
AT one time she was in Rome, then in
Geneva. Then again she was heard Of
IN Paris and Berlin and in many of the
european capitals. She become famous
through various methods. She cut
something of n figure in politics in both
France and Italy. Mr.. Louis Hanson,
the wealthy New York tailor, advertised
Tor housekeeper, and Mrs. Hill, under
the name and in the glliso of Il widow,
got the situation. She married Hanson
III less than a week and III less than n
week after trouble began. They also
went abroad, where Hanson got some
startling information concerning his
wife. When they returned divorce pro-
ceedings were begun, and after some
litigation they agreed to separate.
Final papers were to be signed on
July4, 1885 On the day before Mrs. Han
son sent for her husband and asked him
to take her out of the city to avoid the
noise OF the Fourth. They went to
Storm King Mountain. They were
alone. Two pistol shots were heard, and
people coming up found Hanson dead,
with bullet through his head. She
said he shot at her and then committed
suicide. She left the estate for the Pub
lie Administrator to look after and
started for Australia by way OF the
lsthmus. She died on the way, and let
tcrs nd papers lound in her baggage
revealed her identity. The clue was fol-
lowed, and resulted in putting the wealth
IN young Hills hands.